Hell & Back

13:story time

Minho returned to college with a mix of excitement and nerves. His Hell's Strays members were assigned to keep an eye on him, ensuring he made it to class and back to the apartment safely. He was thrilled to see Seungmin and Jeongin as they greeted him with enthusiastic hugs and squeals of excitement.

"Hey, guys!" Minho exclaimed, hugging them back with a grin. "I'm so glad to see you!"

As they chatted and caught up, Seungmin and jeongin's curiosity was piqued by the presence of the gang members accompanying Minho. They noticed Minho's Hell's Strays Queen tattoo and exchanged bewildered glances.

"Wait, what's going on?" Seungmin asked, his eyes wide as he stared at the tattoo.

Jeongin added, "Yeah, what's with the tattoo? Are you part of a gang or something?"

Minho's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Uh, yeah... I'll explain everything later, but for now, can you just keep it quiet? I promise I'll tell you more soon."

Seungmin and Jeongin nodded, though their curiosity was evident. Minho quickly suggested that they come over to the apartment, promising to send them the address later. Seungmin and Jeongin agreed, eager to continue their catch-up.

During lunch, the boys sat together, enjoying their time and catching up on each other's lives. Minho texted Chan to ask if Seungmin and Jeongin could come over. Chan, who was busy with gang matters, replied affirmatively, saying he would be home a little after dinner, while Felix would arrive after college.

Two Hell's Strays members picked Minho up in one of Chan's cars and drove him back to the apartment. Once there, Minho texted Seungmin and Jeongin the address and began preparing for their arrival, helping Felix with food and lemonade.

As Minho and Felix busied themselves in the kitchen, Minho couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He knew he needed to explain the situation to his friends soon, but for now, he was focused on making their visit as pleasant as possible.

Minho heard the doorbell ring and a few knocks. Excited, he ran over to the door and opened it, greeting the younger boys with a big hug. "HI!" he exclaimed, pulling Seungmin and Jeongin into a warm embrace.

Felix walked up behind Minho, smiling at the scene. But Seungmin and Jeongin were both in shock when they saw Felix. They recognized him immediately from the café where Minho had first seen Chan—the time when Hell's Strays' king had come to get Felix. The boys exchanged a glance, their confusion evident.

"Hey, come on in!" Minho said, pulling them out of their thoughts. He noticed their reaction and added, "Oh, you remember him, huh?"

Seungmin nodded slowly, still processing everything. "Yeah... but what's going on, Minho?"

Minho smiled nervously. "I'll explain everything, I promise. But first, let's eat, okay?" He gestured towards the kitchen, where Felix had been busy preparing food. "Felix made something special for us."

After eating and chatting for a while, Seungmin and Jeongin were starting to feel more comfortable around Felix, learning more about him. They were sitting at the table, laughing and sharing stories, when Seungmin, who was facing the kitchen door, suddenly froze. His eyes widened as if he'd seen a ghost.

Jeongin noticed Seungmin's reaction and turned to see what had caught his attention. At that moment, Chan walked into the kitchen, his presence immediately filling the room with an undeniable energy. Minho, who was also facing the door, saw Chan and instantly got up, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"Chan!" Minho exclaimed, running over to him. He threw his arms around Chan in an enthusiastic hug, the joy on his face evident to everyone in the room.

Chan hugged Minho back, a warm smile on his face as he looked over Minho's shoulder at Seungmin and Jeongin. "Hey," he greeted them with a nod, noticing their stunned expressions. "Good to see you guys."

Seungmin and Jeongin exchanged a glance, still processing everything. The room was filled with a mix of emotions—surprise, curiosity, and a sense of anticipation for whatever was going to come next.

They moved into the living room, the atmosphere tense as they prepared to share their story. Seungmin and Jeongin, still processing the shock, settled on the couch, their eyes darting nervously between Minho and Chan. Minho took a deep breath before beginning.

"It all started when Chan and I were at a store late one night," Minho began, his voice trembling slightly. "We were attacked by some guys with a gun. Chan handled it well, but I had a panic attack. It was terrifying."

Seungmin and Jeongin exchanged worried glances, their fear of Chan evident as they listened. Minho continued, his voice steadying as he spoke about the Hell's Strays hideout.

"After that night, I was taken to the Spider gang. I thought I could test the waters and leave, but things got worse. I was forced to get their tattoo, and it was a nightmare. When I almost got assaulted, I managed to escape and come here to Felix and Chan's place."

Minho paused, taking a deep breath before revealing his new tattoo. He showed them the Hell's Strays Queen tattoo, feeling the weight of its significance.

"I joined the Spider gang to survive, but I wanted to escape. And then, when I got the Hell's Strays tattoo, I knew I was committing to this path. It's a new reality for me. But the reason I chose to stay with Hell's Strays is because I trust Chan. He's protected me, and I believe in him."

Felix and Chan stood nearby, supportive but silent. Seungmin and Jeongin's fear slowly turned into a mix of understanding and awe as they listened to Minho's story. The room was filled with a heavy silence as they processed everything.

Seungmin finally spoke, his voice soft but filled with concern. "You've been through so much, Minho. I just want to make sure you're safe."

Jeongin nodded in agreement, looking at Chan with a wary but hopeful expression. "And you, Chan? You'll take care of him?"

Chan looked at both of them, his expression serious. "I will. Minho's my responsibility now, and I won't let anything happen to him."

The weight of the conversation lingered in the air as everyone absorbed the gravity of Minho's situation.